Day in the life
A Day in the Life of a Typist
What typists actually do from the start of a shift to the end: the tasks, tools, schedule and realities of the job.
What is a typical day like for a typist?
Type a dictated letter. From there, the day usually includes type documents, format reports, and proofread. Full or part time, business hours.
Hour by hour: a typical shift
No two days are identical, but this timeline reflects a realistic day for a typist working full time.
- Type a dictated letter.
- Format a long report.
- Proofread contracts.
- Run a mail merge.
- Fix a template.
- Transcribe meeting notes.
- File final versions.
Where typists work
Typists work in offices and sometimes remotely.
Hours and schedule
Full or part time, business hours.
Tasks you’ll do most often
- Type documents
- Format reports
- Proofread
- Transcribe recordings
- Manage templates
- Merge mailings
- Keep files organized
Tools you’ll use every day
- Microsoft Word
- Google Docs
- Transcription software
- Foot pedals
- PDF tools
- Templates
The best and hardest parts of the job
What people like
- Short training
- Quiet work
- Remote options
- Clear tasks
What’s hard
- Steep decline in jobs
- Repetitive
- Strain injuries
- Low pay
You’ll likely thrive if…
- I type fast
- I spot typos
- I like formatting
- I like quiet work
- I want short training
- I want remote options
Not sure? Take the free Typist fit quiz or the Career Match Quiz.
Staying safe on the job
- Prevent repetitive strain
- Protect confidential documents
- Take breaks
- Use ergonomic setups